The Lodge in downtown Lancaster. / Matthew Berry/Eagle-Gazette

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The Eagle-Gazette Staff

“I put it out there for sale just to kind of test the waters to see if it’s marketable,” owner John Shaffer said. “The only reason I’m selling is I’m 64. I retired last year from the Columbus Division of Fire. I didn’t really have any restaurant or bar experience when I purchased this, and it’s become pretty much more than I expected. I do have a few health issues. That’s really the impetus for putting it on the market.”

But Shaffer said he doesn’t actually want to sell the business and might not renew the real estate listing when it expires.

“I really don’t plan to (sell),” he said. “I think we’re probably going to stay here for the long haul. I think listing it hurt the business to some extent because people don’t want to come here to an event with an uncertain future about The Lodge. But again, I’m 64, and I have health issues. If I wanted to keep working, I would have stayed at the fire department.”

He is asking $895,000 for both the business and building and said he has received little interest from potential buyers.

“I had one person that expressed some interest, but nothing serious,” Shaffer said.

Real estate agent Jeff Sauer said the property has been for sale for about nine or 10 months.

Shaffer said business has been good in the 2˝ years he’s owned it. The Lodge in Lancaster is on Main Street in a former Order of Elks building.

“Our customers have been fantastic,” he said. “Between the (Main Street) road closure and everything, they are still coming out. We’re getting new customers every day. People still don’t know that we’re a general restaurant, bar and banquet facility that’s open to the public. A lot of them still think it’s the private Elks club.”

Shaffer has about 20 employees, and his daughter, Kristal Rake, serves as general manager.

“When we started out, we made tons and tons of mistakes,” Shaffer said. “But as time has gone on, I think everything has improved. I think the service had improved, the food has definitely improved, the way we handle customers and events has all improved. We’ve gotten some experience now. I think we’re going in the right direction. Our sales keep increasing every month.”

He said there are several events booked in advance that he wants to honor before any sale goes through. However, Shaffer said he doesn’t think the business will sell anyway.

“If a buyer comes along, I would really want to qualify the buyer,” he said. “Meaning I would want somebody who would want to continue the business that I think would do a good job for the customers we’ve already established. I supposed I’d have to sell if they gave me the money.”

The Lodge in Lancaster is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.